August 19, 2007 - 05:15
The facts that NSPU do not want you to know    

Along with number of Somalilanders, I have been deeply troubled by the recent report of Awdalnews on all the fake argumentation used by NSPU during their high energy anti Somaliland campaign. Of course, every Somalilander is free to favor Somaliweyn and every Somali has a right to lament that Somaliland people had chosen to restore their independence. Having said that, civil discourse, transpartent debate and intelligent argumentation ought to prevail, what approach NSPU is unwilling to grasp.

First of all, while ostensibly talking in the name of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn inhabitants, NSPU fails to disclose the fact that none of its members hails from these regions. As a matter of fact, along with longtime Somaliland critic Abdallah Hirad, NSPU director and all its agit-prop team are Puntlandlers without any relevant knowledge of Sool and Sanaag. Therefore, NSPU extensive report on the political mood in Sool and Sanaag are like supermarkets tabloids titles: over promising but short on content. As a matter of fact, none of the knee-jerk criticism of NSPU is supported by evidence or diligent interpretation. Instead, the authors chose to draw from the usual Siadist mythologies, often simply condensing the tired rhetoric coined by famous anti Somaliland propagandist. For example, what is the merit of claiming that elders were forced into voting for Somaliland independence when first hand witness overwhelmingly testify to the contrary. Prime minister Galaydh, a delegate during the conference, flatly rejected any coercision while doubting the merits of the separation. If concern for an accurate analysis was not minimal, NSPU would have learn that Eastern Sanaag delegates were the most adamant to vote for separation for a variety of reasons, mainly pertaining to the mayhem in Mudug region. They would have also learned that SNM leadership was way cooler towards separation that the masses on the street, just remember the famous blue print coined by Ahmed Siraanyo. To young and gullible audience, you could purge and politicize historical facts and present Eastern Somalilanders as adamantely opposed to separation, but I personnaly witness a conference in Badhan in 1991 during which 11 out of 23 delegates (including Jibriil Ali Salaad, Makhtir new leader) voted for secession, days before Burao conference. So much for the SNM coercing elders .

Another popular urban legend promoted by NSPU argues that Somaliland has never been recognized as a State during its 4 days stint as an independent country (26 June/01 July 1960). Nothing could be farther from the truth since a quick search through the UN archives indicate that almost three dozens states welcomed the new nation.

More importantly, besides these historical discrepancies, there are relevant facts that NSPU extremist do not want you to know. They can claim day in and day out that Sool and Sanaag are administratively an integral part of Puntland, but invariably points invariably otherwise. All Eastern Sanaag NGO are based in Hargeisa and while Lascanood health, sport and school infrastructure are supposed to be funded through Garowe, Somaliland proudly undertakes the training and remuneration of all Sool teachers. And when Sool players brilliantly make their way through Somaliland games, I am confident that, despite the problems and frictions my Somaliland includes Lascanood.

Mohamed Sougal
mohamedsougal@yahoo.com
http://soolsomaliland.blogspot.com